Well…..Yellowstone National Park. Home of yogi bear and the picnic basket bandit.
Weather again started out absolutely “gorgeous” with a few puffy clouds to add contrast to the deep blue sky (I don’t like contrast anymore). Missed most of breakfast cause I wrote yesterdays blog and got to sleep far too late. Oh well, life goes on.
Our standard morning ritual goes (not including bathroom stuff) load the bikes and find the nearest gas station to fill the beast. Today I thought I might pick up some oil….doing 125-130 on a KLR for 6-7 hours is pretty hard on her. She was telling me that she needed a little TLC. Okay the vibrations were getting to me and that’s the only thing I could think of that might cure it. I rode for an hour before checking and yes….down a half liter over 2000km at some great speeds.
The Idea for today was ride into Yellowstone and ride the best road in the world. Bear tooth highway out from the northeast exit of the park. All sounds good right?! nope!!!
Hot springs just inside the northwest entrance of park…..and yes, Martin had to put his hand into the water. Hot, but not burning. Smell was something a little interesting. My boy would have hated it. hahaha….
Brilliant patterns and colours cover the rocks
Saw my first Grizzly bear….couldn’t get my camera out on the side of the road….and a little scared he might charge me. On a bike you have a lot more respect for wildlife and weather.
I have a lot of wisecracks I want to add to this one, but I’m not.
Come close to meeting this guy up close and personal. BIG MOTHER of a beast. and there are lots of them….everywhere.
Beartooth. We reached 10,000ft when the weather….remember the comment about the puffy clouds… ya they turned into dark thunder storms and high winds. Oh and then started to snow. I turned the beast (at this point, my bestest friend) around and quickly (slowly) (lol) rode back down. Legs dangling like outrigger stabilizing my ride. Well I might not be able to stop it from going down….but it made me feel better having them there.
Ice on lake at 3/4 of way up.
Swings anyone???
Butt head.
On the way to Old Faithful.
We crossed another pass trying to outrun the storm. The temp reached 1.5c and rain. My hands were almost frost bitten by the time we managed to get down. Only thing is we were in a basin at 6500ft and almost every way out need to cross 8600ft and crappy puffy clouds spewing white snot.
We saw old faithful blow its load….sorry kids…at this point just happy to have fingers moving again. Then must head out of Yellowstone…..too much weather warnings. Craig’s pass was the way we should have gone and we tried….but failed. Had to turn around and head for West Yellowstone exit. The northern storm was heading down and we heading back at it. It was the only way out now….. the temperature warmed to 7.5c but started to drop as we headed north. We reached speeds of ….. leaving this out….. just to make the junction before the white stuff. No pictures, hands to cold and no TIME.
Rain started to fall at Madison junction, but we made it…..from there we followed the river down the valley……HARD BRAKES ON……Damn buffaloes…..right in the middle of the road. I was almost roadkill…..he would have walked away. Man they have big pucks. hahaha….I say that now cause I’m breathing easier.
And to finish off the evening I had a gluten free beer and a BUFFALO burger….so there!!!
Nite guys …. Its past midnight so again…..sorry if it doesn’t read right.